Can-soldering machine.



'JNO. 797,985.

PATENTED AUG; 22, 1905. I

J. G. TALIAFERRO. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1904.

6 SEEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 22

2 a i r I I I IIJIIIA I I l l J. C. TALIAFERRO. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1904. I

PATENTBD AUG. 22, 1905.

J. OJTALIAFERRO. 'C'AN SOLDE RI NG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1904. h

esmms-snnm '3' PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

LO. TALIAPERRO. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

AP'PLI0ATI01 FILE-1) JUNE 20,1904.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0. 797,985. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

J. C. TALIAFERRO. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20.1904.

6 SHEBTS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED AUG. 22,1905. J. G. TALIAPERRO. CAN SOLDBRING MACHINE.APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1904.

' e SHEETS-SHEET 6.

V SS H H I W H H HW IHH MH HF H MP H I IRAQ lllllllllllll 1 m. .WW..H.H.. .H w y m T w UNITED 'STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. TALIAFERRO, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLANI),-ASS1GNOR 'IO AMER.- ICANOAN COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAN-SOLDERING MACHINE.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed June 20. 1904. Serial No. 213,222.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHNO. TALIAFERRO, a citizen of the United States,residing in -Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented anew anduseful Improvement in Can- Soldering Machines, of which the following Iis a specification.

My invention relatesto improvements in machines for soldering the endseams of sheet-metal cans,

Machines heretofore commonly in use for soldering the end seams ofsheet-metal cans have ordinarily comprised a track or guideway alongwhich the cans may be rolled. inan inclined position, an endless chainor belt for rolling the cans along the track', a flux-bath or device forapplying acid or other flux to the end seam of the cans as the cans arerolled along the inclined guideway or track, and a solder-bath or devicefor applying molten sol- ,,der tothe end seams of the cans as they arerolled along the inclined guideway or track,

7 and'by such machines the end seams' of round: cans may be veryrapidlyisoldered-and .atsmalllabor cost, but at 'considerabl'ef waste ofsolder, owing .to the-fact that the immersion of the circumferentialcorner of the-can in the molten solder to the heces'sary depthor' extentto properlyfsolder the seam "causes a thin coating of solder-to adhereto the outside pe- "r'ipheral surface or the can-head flange, to anarrow belt of the can-body surface 'above the canehead flange, and anannular portion of the flat surface of the can-head, which unnecessaryoutside solder coatings add nothing to the security of the joint andalso detract from I the neat appearance of thecan. Ordinarily thecombined width of this outside-coating of solder on the can approximatesan inch in extent. Heretofore'it has been proposed to re-- move -aportion of this superfluous outside coating-ofsolder on the can bysubjecting the freshly-soldered can tothe action of stiff bristles,brushes, or wipers, exerting a' wiping or brushing pressureagainst'thecans before the solder coating .becomes setfior fully set, the brushesor wipers having aslow or wiping movement; but whilesome of the waste orsuperfluous soldermay thus be removed the pressure of brushes orwipersagainst the canseagainst the members of the seam-v'while theYsolderbetween the members of the seam and'which is to unite the seam is.yet molten-,

of proper regulation and is veryliable to scratch'and mar the surface ofthe'can and sometlmes even to removethe t1n coating of the tin-plateitself to a greater'or less extent in spots or parts, as this tincoating is necessarily heated'inthe soldering operation to near themelting'or flowing point of tin. The

scratching through or removal of the tin.

coating exposes the steel or iron beneath the tin-plate to speedyrusting and destruction of the can and of its contents. This method ofremoving surplus solder from the end seamsof round cans by wipers .orbrushes rubbingagainst the can with a wiping or brushing pressure andmovement has as-a consequence not heretofore come into general orextensive use-or favor.

Heretofore it has also been proposed to re-.

move surplus solde'r'from the end seams-of round cans by subjecting thefreshly-soldered seam and while the solder thereon is yet in a molten orunset condition to the action of blasts of air or other fluids underpressure; but while such-air or other blasts may blow off or remove thesurplus solder, or a portion thereof, without scratching, marring, orremoving the tin coating of the tin-plate this method is attended withgreat danger of and liability toinjury by blowing out or disturbsing theperfect continuity of the molten sol-- der between the members oftheseamto be united and the production of leaks or pin-. .holes throught'heseam itselfand consequent defective soldering anda leaky c an, and for,this reason this method, so far as I am aware,

hasnot-gone into general use' or'favor. It is the ob ect of my inventionto produce a can-end-soldering machineof a simple,'efli--v cient, anddurable construction by-means of j which the-end seamsof round cans maybe rapidly and cheaply soldered atsmall labor cost by simply rolling thecans, as u'su'al, 1n an inclined position over aflux bath or device fanda molten-solder bath or device and bywhich the soldering may be donewithout any unnecessary waste of solder -that is to say,

without leaving any useless coating of solder on the oulsule ol' thecull-head flange or on i the nnnular'surface of the ran-head ouon lhcrmrbody above the run-headflange, and without subjecting the can to anyjarring action or toany pressure tending to dist ur the memhers of thesome or the solder in Haul forming the joint to any action liable tobreak. or crack, or separate the solder iu the joint before the solderbecomes set or while it is yet in a fluid, semifluid, or brittle state.and without in'any way detracting from the strength, perfection, andcontinuity of the soldered joint or scratching, nun-ring, or injuriugthe outside surface of the can or of the tin coating of the tinplate. I

.\l' invention consists in themeansl cmpioy to practically accomplishthis-important lljl'li. or resultthat is to say, it consists inmnnection with a runway or track, along .\\'hichthe cans may be rolledinan inclined position, a flux bath or device, a molten-solder bath ordevice, an endless chain, belt, or device for rolling the cans along therunway, acooling belt or conveyor for holding and conveying-thefreshly-soldered cans in an upright position or with-theircircumferential freshly-soldered end seams horizontal while thesolder'is cooling or setting, and a pair ofrapidly revolvinglongitudinally arranged buffers interposed in the path of the rollingcans between the solder-bath and the coolingbelt, one engaging .tbe flator disk surface of the can-head and the other the circumferentialsurface of the can-head flange and .canhodyand each composed.of amultitude of lightthin soft flexibletextilecircular disks,

preferably cotton-cloth disks, and each preferably about five or sixinches in diameter, clamped together on a shaft or mandrel withinterposed core-disks, spacer disks, or washers of small diameter. Asthe series of cottoncloth disks forming tl 1e buffer are soft andflexible, the buffer can exert no d istuxbing pressure against the canor the members of he seam to be united, nor any brushing, scratching, orwiping action against the hot or heat-softened tin coating of thetin-plate, tending to scratch, mar, or injure the same, while at thesame time, owing to the swift rapid movement of the buffer, light softcontact or touch against thecanand the molten-solder coating thereoncauses the outside coating of molten solder. to be entirely removedfrom.the outside surface of the can-head, can-head flange, and-can-body,- which were immersed in the molten solder of thes'older-bath, and as the longitudinally-arranged j rapidly-rotating c3;-lindrie ,buffer,which engages the eircu ferential surface of the cant-head flange an of the can-bodyabove the can-head flange, rotates,

so that its peripheral moving surface travels. toward the edge of thecan-head flange the buffing action tends to-drive the molten solder moreeffectually into the-seam and to completrly fill the joint with moltensolder to the extreme edge of"the can-head flange, thus filling up withsolder any pin-holes or crevices that might have been left after't-hocan was rolled through the solder-bath and have otherwise occasionedleaky ordefective cans. The

cooperative action of my rapidly-revolving longitmfinally-arranged softflexible composite textile-disk buflers against themoltensolde'r-coatedoutside surface of the can-head and can-body is notonly to remove the waste or surplus solder coating therefrom,-but to'buff or polish the annular corner belt or surface of the can which hasbeen immersed in the molten solder and to leave the same in ,a bright,neater, cleaner, and more polished condition than even the other surfaceof the cam-which has not been at all touched or tarnished with solder;The cans soldered onmy improved machine have a pure tin luster andbrightness throughout their whole surface.

My invention, produces not only a better and more=perfect seam and at agreat saving of solder, but also a much neater, brighter, cleaner, andbetter looking can than has heretofore been produced byend-seam-isoldering machines operating on the principle of rolling thecans in an inclined. position through or over a bath of molten solder.My invention thus effectually removes th waste orsurplus solde'r fromthe outside sur face of the can and also cleans and polishes suchsurface by reason of the rapidly-moving light soft kissing action orbuffing action of the thin light soft circular cotton disk against thecan,while the solder on its outside surface and in the joint is yet in afluid, semifluid, soft, or easily-removed condition and withoutsubjecting the can, prior to the time the solder in the jointbecomes-set, to any jarring actiomtending to crack or separate thecontinuity of the solder in the joint and without subjectipg the can orthe members of the seam to be united by the solder in the joint to any.is subjected at such time. to any disturbing jarring trembling movementor pressure. My invention also consists in the novel construction ofparts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devicesherein ,shown or described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of"this specification,Figure l is a side elevation of a can-end seam-soldering machineembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is an enlarged endview. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailk side elevation,

therein asthe cans are rolled along the runendless conveyers F EforFigufiisa detail partial longit ldinal section on line 6 fiofiFig. 5. iFig, 17is aqdetail ver .tical s'ection on line 7 7 o f Fign. Fig. 8 is adetail vertical section on line8 Seth ig. 4. isa detail longitudinalsection of one ofthe buflersi Figs. 10 and .11 are'crosssections onlineslO lOand ll 11 of Fig.9. Fig.

wardgalong the track or irunvvay :B in soldering that end and the otherend downward along the other track or runway B while solfdering theotherendseain of the can. Each oftthetransverselyinclinedtracks-or run- ;YwaysB Bfare furnished iwitha lower guide bforfthe lower endsof.theirolling cans to bear againstand with an upper guide 6 to guideorbear against the upper ends of the cans. I The upper guides Fof thetracks or runways B are adjustably secured to the tracksor runways byclampsand adjustingscrewsb b to adapt the inachine to accommodateyeansofdifferent lengths.

' ,,Cis the fluxingbath or devic'e longitudinally arranged along" thetracks or runways Bysothat the endseamsfof the cans will come in contactwiththe acid or other flux way over the same. Disthe molten soldcrbathors-vessel over "which the transversely-inclinedgtracksor runwaysvBB extend so that theend seams of the cans will be immersedinbr come inconi tact with the molten solder therein as the cans are rolledcontinuously along the run D D are heaters for heating and keepii'igmolten the solder in the solder-bath. These 1 heaters are preferablycoat-burning furnaces havingcommunicating fines (i and longitndi- Inalflue 4. leading. to upright or exhaust flue if d", {The solder ispreferably fed or applied to; :the"molten-solder bathf or. vessel in theEE are can-feed chutes or runwaysalong for by which the cans to besoldered are deliverejd to the right hand transversely-im clined runwayB thecans coming from one or the other runway or both runways, as may bedesired. i v FFand F F areendless conveyors for roll- I mg the cansalong'the runwaysfHB. 'lhe rolling the cans along that portion of therunwaysB B Whit ill extend overthe flux solder baths or dcbelts.

same with a tension bar or sheef" runway or truck and to train the lowerrun of the hchp it in i cured by pins f -"fn the rel-tire! guidesor inls l"",n1nul chains will not be injured by the heat of the furnaces;The endless com-overs F Fl which roll the cans along that portioi'i ofthe tracks. or runways B which extend along or adja cent to therapidlye-evolvingcylindrical bu l" fers, are preferably leather, rubber,or other lprei'er to em ploy two conveyors --one for rolling the cansalong the soldering portion of the runway and the other for rolling thecans along the buliing' portion of the rnn- Way-instead of using, oneand the same conveyer for rolling the cans from one end of .thetransversely-inclined runway or trees: B or B as a metal or chainconvever is better adapted to Withstand the heat of the solderbath andfurnaces, whilea belt com-ever gives a better frictional grip or biteagainst the surfaces of the cans than a metal chain, as the cansencounter somewhat more resistance while being rolled in contact withthe rapidl v revolving cylindrical bu fl'ers than the; do when rollingalong the flux and'solder baths. The use of the two separate conveyorsalso enables me to drive the buflingrconvevcr at a somewhat higherspeech which is desirable to compensate for any additional slipping oithe c'onveyer on the surface of the cans, due to the additionalresistance ollered by the buflers to the rolling of the cans. By the useof two conveyers also the stream of rolling cans may be more Widelyspread or separated from each other while being operated upon by thcbuffers, and thus prcnsnt .ne particles of solder removed from one canbeing thrown upon :1 following or adjacent can. The increased speed ofthe second or belt conveyors F F also hastens the passageof the cansalong the bull'ers and the turning and delivering of the same into anupright position on thccoolingbelt before the solder ill the joint setsvit being important to the production ol perl'cei. soldered seam lrr-efrom h-nhs lhntthe can should be nniiznnim-d in an :51 ll ""li (withinwhile the solder in the joint is setting 'lh; belt convex rs l l1 travelon lu .llc

lo lIKfIUIlSi then'rip of the chain com F in on the rolling on 11s., thes n: with \-S(.l'l03 of weights i.- friune. To increase the 'r'ricth-m'.ln-. ltc0nve crs 1" l on the en i Ll sh the r all res-i upon the upperloopol' each of the brllj-s. ii.-

enable this weight. ban or shoe/"1 to :n-eonrmodatc itself to theli-ransvcr inclination of the cans rolling on the llHl'lSVkI'x rem-linedt-hc frame. Springs/' increase iii-i of the bar or shoe/" against the inBetween the :uljaeeni. ends of :luconrexers 1* h" the (ml-trnrhs in.ru;,-.

' the grip of mandrel g, with washers bleltextile buffer-disks g.

are preferably furnished with a longitudinally downwardly inclinedportion '6 to accelerate the rolling of cans after they leave the firstconveyer F and before they reach the extension-conveyor F.

G G G Gare two pairs of rapidly-revolving longitudinally arranged softflexible cylindric buffers, one, G, of each pair arranged to engage thecylindric surface of the canhead-flanges and can-bodies. and the other,G,

to engage the-tflat or disk surfaces of the can- .heads as the cans arerolled along the runway.

Each of the soft flexible cylindric buffers are preferably about fiveinches in diameter and about two feet in length and are rotated,preferably, at a speed 'of about six hundred revolutions per minute andare each preferably composed of a series of thin soft flexible textilecircular disks' g, preferably cottoncloth disks, clamped together on ashaft or or spacer-rings g interposed at intervals between the softflexi- Ordinarily a washer 9 1s interposed between each set of threebuffer-disks g. The softflexible textile buffer-disks g and washersg areclamped tight onthe shaft or mandrel g by nuts g g on the threaded endsof the shaft The shaft gQis-preferably hollow or tubular and furnishedwith solid shaft extensions g g, re-

movably secured thereto by plugs gland pins g g to facilitate the quickremoval and re' placement of the compositedisk cylindric' bufferwhennecessary from time to time to remove and replace the cloth buffer-diskg or clean the same.

1 l H H are scrapers, brushes, or cleaners for removing particles ofsolder from the buffers. Each of the scrapers H have, preferably, a

notched or serrated edge hto engage the com-- posite circular clothdisk-buffers GG. Each ofthe scrapers is adjustably secured to the frameby a screw or bolt hpassing through a slot k in the scraper and'aslotted bracket It on the frame, so that the position of the scrapers orbrushes in relation to the buffers 4 may be adjusted as desired fromtime to time.

To direct the particles of sold er removed from the outside surface ofthe can by the buffers into a pan or receptacle K, I arrange solderguiderplates K K and a curved hood orshield K above the upper buffers G,G'and curved shields K" one extending over each of the lower buffersG',.as will be readily understood from the drawings.

M Mare a pair of cooling-belts, one at .each side of the machine,traveling over horizontal -pulleys m mfor conveying the cans in anupright position with the ends thereof which have just been, solderedand buffed lowermost, so that the cans may be held and conveyed in 'anupright position with their freshly-soldered circumferential si amshorigether to rotate below the buffers G G in order that all danger. ofdefective seams.

fromthe solder in the joint running and collecting more at one pointthan another may be prevented. To facilitate the cooling of the freshlysoldered and bufi'edseams, cool air may be projected against the cans asthey are conveyed along the cooler-belt fromthe cold-air trunks N. M M"preferably consist of a pairof metal chains m m,"connected together bycross slats or plates of metal m I y P P are curved and twistedguidewaysex: tending from the rear ends of'the' can runways or tracks BB to the cooling-belts M M below and by which the cansare automaticallyturned from the inclined position in which they are rolled along therunways B B into an upright position and delivered in such up-- rightposition onto the cooling-belts, .R is the driving-shaft. Motion ispreferably communicated therefrom to the pulley-shaft f of theendlessconveyers pulley r on the driving-shaft R, belt 9", pulley 9' on shaft 7'3,I1d gears 9- 1' Motion is preferably communicated from thedrivingshaft R to the pulley-shaft f of the endless conveyers F" Fthrough a pulley r on the driving-shaft R, beltr, and pulley f 7 on saidpulley-shaft f Motion is preferably communicated from the driving-shaftR to the pulley-shaft m of the cooling-belts M M by a pulley r on thedriving-shaft R, belt r", and pulley m on a pulley-shaft m and gears mm, the gear m being on the pulley-shaft m of the cooling-belts.

The soft flexible composite cloth disk buffers G G" G G are preferablyall geared toin the required direction by a sprocket chain or' belt G,passing over or around a pulley Gr on the shaft of each of the buffersand over or around a pulley G on the buffer-driving shaft G and over oraround the idle pulleys G Gr and the belt-tightener pulley G and thesoft flexible composite disk buffers G G are all rotated at therequisite speed, preferably about six hundred revolutions per minute, tocause the soft flexible composite cloth circular disk buffers toeffectuallyremove the surplus solder from the outside surface of the canadjacent to the seam without injuring the seam or without. scratching ormarring the tin coating of the tin plate and to buff and polishtheoutside surface of the can, which has been immersed in or come incontact with the molten solder of the solder-bath, preferably through apulley r on the driving-shaft R, belt 7*, center shaft T, having smallpulley t for said belt 7*, large pulley t on said shaft T, belt at", and

small pulley t on the bufier-driving shaft'G".

It will, however,be understood by those skilled in the art that motionmay be communicated to the several moving devices of the machineEach'ofthe cooling-belts- F F through aillustrated in the drawings.

S is a curved chute orj runway of a loop.

form and furnished with an endless belt or chain elevator S, whichlooped runway and elevator operate to take the cans after one endthereof has been soldered from one coolingbelt, raise them to the levelof the other track or runway B, and. turn the cans end for endpreparatory to soldering the other or remaining end of the can.

In operation the cans roll from the chuteE or E onto the tranmersely-inclined runway B, alongwhich they are rolled by the chain conveyer F over the ii ux-hath and then over the solder-bath, and thenwhile the solder is in a molten condition on the cans the cans come incontact with the rapidly-revolving buffers G G, which operate byabufling action to remove the surplus solder from the outside surface ofthe can which has been immersed in the solder and to polish such surfaceand restore it to its original bright tin luster: The length of'therapidly-revolving cylindrical buffers G G is such, in connection withthe speed with which the cans are rolled along the track by the endlessconveyer F, that the cans are conveyed past thebuffers and delivered inan upright position onto the cooling-belt before the solder. in the seamcools or sets, and then the cans are con veyed by the cooling-belt in anupright position fora time sufficient to allow the solder in the seam tobecome thoroughly set, so that the solder in the 'seam cannot run to orcollect at one point'more than another. The cans as they pass off thecooling-belt over and. around the cooling-belt pulley are delivered intothe loop runway S, which delivers them to the endless belt or chainelevator S, by which they are raised again above the level of theruuwayor track B. The cans then continue to roll along the. loop-runwayS and are delivered to the runway B on the opposite side of the machine,the loop run way serving to turn the cans end for end, so that theunsoldered end thereof is now lowermost.

on the track B. The cans'are now rolled alongthe other track B, over theflux-bath and solder-bath, and past the other pair of buffers G G, afterwhich they are delivered in an upright position onto the cooling-beltand from which the cans are delivered from the machine with both endssoldered and the surplus solder removed from both ends and both endsbuffed and polished,

1. In an end-solderingmachine for sheetnetal cans, the combination witha flux-bath, a. solder-bath, two transversely-inclined run ways for thecans, two pairs of rapidly-revolving soft cylindrical buffers, composedof fl ibl textile. disks, and arranged parallel t saidrrunwgysiiWOODdlQSS'CiliLlI] conveyors f lli gh 'cans along the flux and solderbath portion of said runways, two endlessbelt conveyers for rolling thecans along the portion of the runways adjacent to said buffcrs, twocooling belts for conveying the freshly-soldered andbuifed cans in anupright position while the solder in the can-seams is cooling orsetting,vtwo devices for. turning and delivering the cans from therunways onto the cooling-belts in an upright position, and a loop-trackfurnished with an elevator for elevating and turning the cans end forend after the end seams at one end of the cans have been soldered anddelivering the same to the other runway forsoldering the other endthereof, substantially as specified.

2. In acan-end-soldering machine, the combination with a can-runwaygsolder-bath, cooling-belt, and means for rolling the cansalong therunway, of a pair of rapidlye'otatingsoft, cylindrical buffers composedof flexible circular textile disks, arranged longitudinally adjacent tothe runwayandengaging the fresh solder-coated outside surface of thecans as they are rolled along therunway to remove the surplus solderfrom such surface and polish or buff the same before the cans aredelivered to' the cooling-belt, substantially as specified. v 3. In acan-end-soldering machine, the combination with the solder-bath,can-runway,

and means for rolling the cans along the runway, of a pair ofrapidly-rotating soft flexible cylindrical buffers engaging the outsidesolder-coated surfaces of thecans as they roll along the runway, and acooling-belt, substantially as specified. r

4. In a canend-soldering machine, the combination with twotransversely-inclined can: runways, of a solder-hath, means for rollingthe cans along the runways, two pairs of rapidly-rotating, soft,flexible buffers, each com- I posedof a series of thin circular textiledisks, and two cooling-belts, substantially as specified.

5, In a can-end-soldering machine, the combinationwith twotransversely-inclined can runways, of a solder-bath, means for rollingthe cans along the runways, two pairs of rapidly-rotating, soft,flexible buffers, each composed of a series of thin circular textiledisks, two cooling-belts, and means for delivering the cans from therunways to the coolingbelts in an upright position, substantially asspecified.

6. In a can-end-soldering machine, the com bination with twotransversely-inclined can.- runways, of a solder-bath, means for rollingthe cans along the runways, two pairs of rapidly-rotating, soft,flexible buffers, each composed of a series of thin circulartextiledisks, two cooling-belts, means for delivering the cans from therunways to the cooling-belts in an upright positiomaud a loop-track andelevator for delivering the cans from the cooling-heit on one side ofthe machine to the rune 7 horizontal pulleys the runway,

way on theother side of the :machine, substantially'as specified.

7. The combination with a can-track, ofa solder-bath, a conveyer for thecans, a rapidly-rotating soft cylindrical buffer, ascrape-r for removingparticles of solder from the buffer, and a shieldior hood over thebuffer,-

substantially as speci-fied. V

8 The combination with a can-track, of a solder-bath, a conveyer for thecans, a rapidly-rotating soft cylindrical buffer, a scraper for removingparticles of solder from the buffer, a shield or hood over the buffer,and

a solder guiding or deflectingplate, substan-' tially as specified.

9. In acan-end-solderingmachine, the com- 'bination with a can-runwayand a solder-bath, of rapidly-rotating soft, cylindrical bufferscomposed of flexible, textile disks, an endless conveyer for rolling thecans along the track over the solder-bath, and a'second endless conveyerfor rolling the cans along the track adjacent thebuifer, substantiallyas speci 10. In a can-end s'oldering machine, the combination with acan-runway, of a solderbath, a longitudinally-arranged rotating but.-ferparallel to the runway, -an endless belt forrolling'cans along therunwayin engagement with the buffer, a tension-bar bearing against'thebeltjto increase its grip on the cans," guides for said tension-bar, andsaidten- I sion-bar having a pivotal connection with said guides,substantially as specified.-

11. The combination with a transverselyinclined can-runway, of a belttraveling on for rolling the-cans along a transversely-inclinedtensionbar resting on the belt, guides for said transverse bar, and apivotal connection between said guides and said tension-bar,substantially as specified. f 4

In a can {end-soldering machine, the combination with a can-runway, of asolderbath, a rotating bufier sets or hardens, and a cooling-belt forholding and conveying the cans in anupright position while the soldersets, substantially as speci-' 13. In a can-end-solderingmachine, thecombination with acan-runway, of a solderbath, a rotating bufferparallel to said runway and engaging the solder-coated outside,

surface of the can before the solder sets 'or hardens, a cooling-beltfor holding and con- Veying the cans in an upright position while thesolder-sets, and means for turning the cans from their inclined positionto an upright position and delivering them .onto the cooling-belt,substantially as specified.

In a can-end-so'ldering machine, the combination with a can-runway, of asolderbath,

. parallel to said run- Way and engaging the solder-coatedoutsidesurface of the-cans before the solder thereon" a rotating bufferparallel to said runsurface of the cans before the solder thereon setsor hardens, a cooling-belt for holding and conveying the cans in anupright position while the solder sets, and acurved and twisted guidefor turning the-cans from the inclined position of the runway to anupright position and delivering them to the cooling-belt, substantiallyas specified.

15. In a can-end-soldering machine, the combination with asolder-bath,of two transversely-inclined can-runways, one oneach side of themachine, two cooling-belts below the runways, means for rolling the cansalong the runways, and two pairs of rapidly-rotating soft, cylindricalbuffers composed of flexible textile disks parallel to the runways,substantially as specified.

I 16. In a can -endsoldering machine, the combination with asolder-bath, of two trans-. versely-inclined can-runways, one on eachside of the machine, two cooling-belts below the runways, means forrolling the cans along the runways, two pairs of rapidly-rotating soft,cylindrical buffers composed of flexible textile disks parallel to therunways, and means for turning the cans into an upright position anddelivering them to the cooling-belts as they leave the runways,substantially as specified.

17. In' a can-end-solderihg machine, the combination with a solder-bath,of two transversely-inclined can-runways,- oneon each side of themachine, two5cooling-belts below the runways, means for rolling the cansalong the runways, two pairs of rapidly-rotating soft, cylindricalbuffers composed of flexible textile disks'parallel to the runways,means for turning the cans into an upright position and delivering themto the cooling-belts as they leave the runways, and a loop-runway andelevator for turning the cans end for end'and delivering them from thecooling-belt on one side of the machine to the runwayon the other,substantially as specified.

18. In a cant-end-soldering machine, the combination with a solder-bath,of two transversely-inclined canrunways, one on each side of themachine, two cooling-belts below the runways, means for rollingthe cansalong the runways, two pairs of rapidly-rotating soft, cylindricalbuffers composed of flexible textile disks parallel to therunways, andscrapers for said buffers, substantially as specified. 19. In acan-end-soldering machine, the combination with a solder-bath, of twotransversely-inclined can-runways, one on each side of the machine, twocooling-belts below the runways, means for rolling the cans along therunways, two pairs of rapidly-rotating soft, cylindrical bufferscomposed of flexible tex tile disks parallel to the runways, scrapersfor said buffers, and a hood covering the two upper buffers, curvedshields over the two lower buffers and solder guiding or deflectingplates. i below the buffers, substantially as specified.

20. Ina can-end -s'oldering machine, the combination with-a can-runway,of means for rolling the cans along'the runway, means for applyingmolten solder tolthe end' seams of the cans as they roll along therunway, a rotating cylindrical buffer. parallel to the canrunway andengaging the solder-coated out- .side surface of the cans before thesolder thereon sets or. hardens, and a can-cooling conveyer for holdingand conveying the cans in an upright position While the solder setsafter being acted upon by said butter, substantially as specified.

:21. In a can end-sold ering machine, the combination witha-can-runw-ay, of means for rollingthe cans along the runway, means forapplying molten solder to the end seams of.

the cans asthey roll along the'runway, a rotati:ng. cylindrical butferparallel to the canrunway and engaging the solder-coated outside surfaceof the cans before the solder there- .on sets or'hardens, and acan-cooling conveyver' forflholding and conveying the cans in 1 anupright position while the solder sets after "being actedupon by'said.buffer, and means fortu'rnin'g the cans from-their, rolling posi-' .tiononsa'id runway and delivering them onto said cooling-conveyer in anupright. positien,

substantiallyas specified.

$22. In a can-endf-soldering machine, the combination with asolder-bath, of a can-runway, means for rolling the cans along therunway, a can-cooling con veyer for conveyingthe freshly-soldered cansin an. upright position while the solder in the can-seams is setting orcooling, and'a long, cylindrical bnfier'parallel to the can-runway andinterposed along the path of the cans between the solder-bath and saidcan-cooling conveyer, substantially as specified.

- 23. Ina canend-soldering machine, the' combination with a can-runway,of an endless moving conveyer for rolling the cans along the runway, 'asolder bath, and a pair of rapidly-' rotating soft, cylindrical buflers'compo'sed'of a series ofthin,.flexible circular, textile dis-ks, saidbuffers havingtheir-axes parallel tosa'id runway, and one engaging theoutside solder-- coated cylindrical surface of the can-head flange andcan body, an'd the other engaging thesolder-coated flator disk surfaceof the canhead as the cans are rolled along said runway and means forrotating said buflers at a high speed, substantially as specified.'

24, In a can-end -soldering machine, the

combination with acan-runway, a movable device engaging the cans on therunway for rolling the same thereon, a solder-bath, and a pair ofrapidly-rotating, long, soft, eylindricalbuf .fers parallel to saidrunway, composed each combination with a solder-bath, of acan-runway, amoving device for rolling the cans along the runway, and arapidly-rotating, long, soft cylindrical bufl'er parallel to saidrunway, composed ofaseries of thin, flexible, textile disks, andengaging the outside soldencoated surfaces of the'cans as they rollalong the runway and means for rotating said buffers at a high speed,substantially as specified.

26. In a can -end-sold ering machine, the

"combination with a solder-bath, of a can-run-- way, a moving device forrolling the cans along the runway, and a rapidly-rotating, long, soft,

'cylindrical bufl'er, parallel to said runway,

composed of a' series of thin, flexible, textile disks andinterposedwashers of less diameter than the disks, and engaging the outsidesolder-coated surface of the cans as they roll along the runway andmeans for rotating said 'buifers at a highspeed, substantiallyasspecifled. j I a 27; In a can-soldering machine, the combi-v nationWitha can-soldering means, of a' rapidly-rotating, long, soft,cylindrical buffer, composed ofa series of thin, flexible, textile disksforremoving the solderfrom the outside Surface of the'cans and polishingthe same, a

runway for the cans parallel to said long, cy-

lindrical buffer, and an endless conveyer engaging the cans on therun-way for'rolling the same thereon inengagement with'said b ifer andmeans for rotating said buffers at a igh speed, substantiallyasspecified.

28. In 'a can-end-soldering 'machine, 'the combination with a solderingmechanism, of a long, soft, cylindrical buffer, composed ofa series ofthin, flexible, textile disks and interposed washers of less diameterthan the disks, a'runway for the cans parallel to said long, cylindricalbuffer, and an endless moving con- ,veyer engaging the cans on therunway for rolling the cans along the runway in engagementwith thebuffer and means for rotating said buffers at a. high speed,substantially as specified.

JOHN G. TALIAFERRO. Witnesses:

RICHARD 'GWINN, CHAS. RE NARD.

